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St Ives Flower Show 1880

Here's the report of the 1880 St Ives Flower show as published in the Hunts Guardian & East Midland dated 24 July 1880. You can read a history of the show and access all the links for newspaper articles and other information about the show at Allotment Heaven: St Ives Flower Show from 1876.

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24 July 1880

ST IVES HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

The annual show of this society took place on Thursday, in the grounds of Mr. H. Goodman, on the Somersham Road. It has been held here since the institution of the society, and forms a very convenient and suitable place. The exhibition appears each year to extend in importance and interest, and every time we have to report an increase in entries, attendance, and improvement generally. The day, although cloudy and portending thunderstorms, proved fine, but the sultry heat was intense under the canvass. The Cottagers' show was held in one large tent, and the Amateurs' in a larger bifurcated tent close by.

The object of the society is to encourage gardening among the inhabitants and therefore the Cottagers claim the first place. There were 85 classes, and all with scarcely an exception well represented. The competition in some of the classes was very keen indeed, and some admirable specimens of garden culture were staged.

The Amateurs' section was more varied, and occupied a wider range. Its principal feature was the open classes for roses, which induced a competition which may be described as national. The entries in these two classes were very numerous, and while some magnificent specimens were exhibited from a distance, and a distinguished non-local amateur secured the first prize, the local specimens of the Queen of Flowers were by no means to be despised. The show of roses was remarkable, both for extent and excellence, and few local exhibitions can boast of such a display. That Messrs. Paul and son were beaten by a recently established amateur was surprising, but that firm another year will have a greater respect for the importance of the exhibition. The failure of the Huntingdon society, and the absence of any show in the county town, added a little zest to what we may call the county show at St Ives. Mr. Cooper, florist, of Huntingdon, showed a splendid 24, but he laboured under the disadvantage of having a few inches of water over his rosary for several hours. Mr. Farren, of Cambridge, showed some beautiful roses, and took his place in the prize list. Both 24's and 12's were likewise represented, and notwithstanding the season there was never gathered in St Ives a more brilliant collection of roses than was seen on Thursday. The cut flowers, arranged in baskets and bouquets, was another closely contested department, and the ladies were quite as industriously anxious and successful as in the rose classes. The result was a charming appearance, and a tent which in brilliance and beauty of bloom could scarcely be equalled in any town of this size. Mr. Atherton, of Chatteris, exhibited in the 24's some admirable blooms. The vegetable division of the Amateurs' department was never so well filled. The produce generally, in size and excellence, has never been equalled. Reuben Smith's American Rose looked before they were staged as though nothing could touch them, but the magnificent tubers staged put them in the shade altogether, and Mr Wise's gardener may well be congratulated. In all the classes the competition was most severe, and the exhibition remarkably good.

The tent was decorated profusely with specimens of rare choice plants from the houses of Mr. F. Warren, Mr. B. Brown, and Mr. Barton Giddins staged some fine specimens of geraniums. &c. Nothing was undone to make the exhibition as attractive to the eyes as possible, and the crowds which thronged the tent all the afternoon were but a due testimony to the worth of the contents. Another year it will be necessary to have directions to guide the stream of visitors. Some were going one way and some another in pleasant confusion – there must be an arranged course of entrance and exit with such a large assemblage.

Outside the tent there were other attractions. The Hunts Militia band played during the afternoon and evening, and a large dancing party tripped the light fantastic toe within the tennis ground, although the crowding spectators would not be satisfied with viewing the scene outside the rails, but trespassed within the charmed circle to the inconvenience of the dancers.

The prizes to the Cottagers were distributed by Mr. R. M. Copley, those of the Amateurs Mr. G. Chapman, who during the day filled his various duties in the most effective and obliging manner.

The judges were – Cottagers Messrs. Tilbrook and Fryer, and for the Amateurs Messrs. Petfield and Ingle. For the rose classes all four were combined. The judges for the birds were Mr. G. D. Day, and Mr. Baker.

During the afternoon the pleasant grounds of Mr. W. W. Warner, nearly adjoining, were available for a walk round. His gardener, Mr. Jefferies, who took several prizes, need not be ashamed of any one going through his glass, the stages being covered with excellent plants, where not in service in the show tent. Mr. Smith, the veteran of Papworth Hall, was quite satisfied with the results his pupil had obtained. We missed Mr. Smith's appearance in the open rose class, which was unavoidable. There were numbers of experienced gardeners present and it is satisfactory to know that they formed and very high opinion of the show, while at the same time there was an expression of the necessity for a little more strength in the management to prevent the delay which arose in staging, and perhaps an inevitable delay considering the increase of exhibits.

The display of fireworks, a feature introduced in the year of the Goodman mayorality, and ever since kept up by his generosity, is one of the most prominent and popular items in the day's proceedings. The supply of these was again intrusted to Mr. W. Seward, who seconded the liberal wishes of the donor with care and energy, arranging a display from the well-known firm of Mr. Joseph Wells of London. The pieces selected in point of number and beauty of design will bear comparison with any previous year, and the arrangements for giving them due effect where admirably carried out. Besides the lavish display of rockets and other minor accessories, the set pieces were as follows: – "Royal Salute of Aerial Maroons," "The Fountain of Silver," "The Crystal Mirror," "The Coruscated Shield," "The Magic Kaleidoscope," "The Zulu War Wheel," "The Electric Revolving Sun," "Aladdin's Fire of Golden Spangles and Jewels," and the grand finale, which was of a novel and brilliant conception. It was 16 feet in diameter, the centre representing a portrait of the Prince of Wales, with the words "Good Night" on either side. The decorations to the suitable set-off of the design were lavishly and artistically arranged, twelve gross of stars and accompanied by flight of hundreds of rockets and shells.

The attendance in the field in the evening was enormous. The fireworks gave every satisfaction, and were pronounced to be the best display ever given in the town.

Mr. C. Stiles, confectioner, again conducted the refreshment department, under conditions perfectly satisfactory to Temperance Society, and the day being warm and sultry, he did a roaring trade.

The police were present, and enjoyed the only sinecure position of the day. Notwithstanding the large crowds present they had nothing to do but to admire the pleasant scene, and we are glad to state that the whole proceedings were most gratifying to managers and visitors.

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